Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Rules to Contain Environmental Damage Due to E-Waste Generation
The percentage of e-waste collected, dismantled & recycled/ disposed out of the total e-waste generated in the country from twenty-one  types of electrical and electronic equipment  notified Under the E-Waste  Rules, 2016 during the last three years is given below:
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Financial Year
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Generation
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Quantity of e-waste collected, dismantled & recycled / disposed
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2017-18
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7,08,445.00
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69,414.0
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2018-19
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7,71,215.00
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1,64,663.0
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2019-20
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10,14,961.21
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2,24,041.0
The input data of e-waste generated is collated on national level only.
Ministry has notified E-Waste  Rules, 2016 which were further amended in 2018for management of electronic waste generated due to discarding of electronic equipment by the consumers. The rules came into force since 1st October, 2016and have the following specific objectives:
- Extended Responsibility to producers to manage a system of E-waste collection, storage, transportation and environmentally sound dismantling and recycling through EPR Authorization .
- To promote and encourage establishment of an efficient e-waste collection mechanism.
- To promote environmentally safe and sound recycling through authorized dismantlers and recyclers of e-waste.
- To minimize illegal recycling / recovery operations.
- Reduce hazardous substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment .
The EEE after their useful life when they become e-waste, may not cause any harm to health and environment if it is stored safely. However, if un-scientific and crude methods are used for processing for retrieval of useful components or material or if the material is disposed in open, then it may cause health risks and damage to environment. Under the E-Waste  Rules, 2016, collection and processing of e-waste can be carried out only by Producers or their authorised associates/ partners, authorised dismantlers, recyclers and authorised refurbisher. Non-compliance of the E-Waste  Rules, 2016 may lead to adverse impact on environment and human health. Following steps have been taken to curb informal collection and unscientific dismantling and recycling of e-waste:
- Under EPRA, a producer is required to get its e-waste managed only through an authorized dismantler or recycler of e-waste.
- Central Pollution Control Board  grants EPRA only to those producers who have set up a system of collection of e-waste through authorised entity as per the above said rules.
- An Action Plan for enforcement of E-Waste  Rules, 2016, across the country is in place since May, 2019. The action plan is to be implemented by all the States/UTs and State Pollution Control Boards /Pollution Control Committees  are required to submit their quarterly progress reports to CPCB to review progress. In the said action plan, checking informal traders, dismantlers, recyclers of e-waste have been taken-up as one of the action points. Drives for identification of informal activities are to be done by all the SPCBs along with district administration of the State. An e-waste management review portal has also been developed for uploading status & progress of e-waste action plan.
- Actions, such as, constitution of teams for carrying out drives, issuing of notices, closure of operation, seizing the E-Waste against the informal processing are being taken up by the SPCBs/PCCs. Seventeen SPCBs/ PCCs started the drive against informal recycling as per the aforesaid Action Plan during Financial Year 2020-2021.
- Under the aforesaid rules, provisions have been made for recognition and registering of workers involved in dismantling and recycling of E-Waste. Under Rule 12 of the said rules, State Government has been entrusted with the responsibility to ensure earmarking or allocation of industrial space or shed for E-Waste dismantling and recycling in the existing and upcoming industrial park, estate and industrial clusters.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.